Chronicle of the Consecration of the New Bells
From the Campaners de La Misericòrdia we can only, to echo the very important celebration that we were able to experience this past Sunday, We will all always remember the beginning of these celebrations with a singular act 16 April 2023 in Banyeres de Mariola.
After weeks of endless meetings to organize, decide and specify how the protocol should be, the celebration and the act of consecration of the new bells, The day had finally arrived when everything planned would come true..
The transport arrived with the new bells on the 7:40 h in the morning to the Plaça Major.
In the square, great expectation reigned among all the people who were waiting there to receive them., and that since 7:00 h, we were preparing everything necessary, together with the work teams of the Sant Jordi Brotherhoods, Santa. Mary Magdalene and Saint Lucia, as well as the volunteers of the Parish of Our Lady of Mercy, who had been responsible for preparing and decorating the portal of the Parish Temple and the supports that would display the bells.
The supports were first downloaded., They were located in the place planned for the celebration, then the bells on these to be able to display them and be seen by all the neighbors.
The Plaça Major is ready with the fences decorated with local emblems, the bells placed on the supports, and decorated these following the decoration with garlands that, They had previously been placed on the jambs and lintel of the main door of the Parish Temple, marked the perimeter circuit planned around the bells, so that they could be visited throughout their perimeter, the preparation work for the Plaça Major was completed.
About the 9:30 h our Parish Priest, D. Mico Ramon Colomer, He was heading to the entrance of Banyeres de Mariola to receive the Most Excellent and Most Reverend Archbishop of Valencia Sr.. D. Enrique Benavent Vidal.
Upon arrival they went directly to the City Hall, where he was received by the municipal corporation with our mayor, Josep Sempere and Castelló at the front. The procession then begins to the Parish Temple of Our Lady of Mercy., where they were received by D. Antonio Sempere Beneyto, secretary of the Parish Council, who introduced him to Mr.. Archbishop to Doña María Elena Vilanova Calatayud, president of the Brotherhood of Sant Jordi, to the president of the Brotherhood of Santa María Magdalena, Mrs. Carmen Albero Doménech, and the president of the Brotherhood of Santa Lucía, D. Jordi Berenguer Molina, who preceded our Assigned Parish Priest at the gate of the Parish Temple. Francisco José Vañó Asensio who carried the reliquary with the Lignum Crucis.
After the Holy Reliquary was venerated by Mr.. Archbishop, He entered the Parish Temple, blessing all those present..
Temple full of faithful, representatives of all parish classes, catechumens, party world, cultural entities, social, civilians and many neighbors who spontaneously attended, and they did not want to miss the solemn celebration of the Eucharist. All of them perfectly located in the planned places, thanks to the work of those responsible for the protocol of the Brotherhoods of Sant Jordi, Saint Mary Magdalene and Saint Lucia, in the Parish Temple and in the Communion Chapel that, had been prepared for this purpose with a large screen and improved public address system, to be able to perfectly follow the Eucharistic Celebration.
Mr. Archbishop after greeting the members of the Parish Council sitting in the first pews, He first went to the Communion Chapel where he prayed for a few moments, accompanied by our parish priests, the presidents and president of the three brotherhoods involved in the achievement of this project and other companions.
Meanwhile, the Municipal Corporation was accommodated in the planned location..
After the minutes of prayer, Mr.. The Archbishop entered the sacristy to dress and the presidents of the three brotherhoods occupied their respective seats along with the members of their respective boards of directors.
At 10:00 h, the celebration of the Eucharist began, with the entrance procession while the Mariola Choir sang, the entrance song, and that livened up the entire celebration.
They acted as acolytes more than 25 First Communion catechumens, all of them dressed in red and black cassocks and on them the traditional roquette. They were accompanied by the Sacristán Juan Luís Beneyto Doménech, Antonio Sempere Beneyto and Antonio Reig Gisbert.
The Eucharistic Celebration began with the introduction read by D.. Juan Juan Ferre, component of the Liturgy Team who acted as Monitor of the celebration. The first reading was proclaimed by Doña Inmaculada Reig Vañó of the Brotherhood of Santa María Magdalena, the Psalm by Doña Inmaculada Jordá Ferre, Responsible for the Valencian Hospitality of Our Lady of Lourdes, and the Antiphon sung by the Mariola Choir, the second reading was read by Doña Yolanda Clemente Conejo from the Confraria de Sant Jordi, the Sequence by Doña María Teresa Francés Barceló, president of the AMPA of the Ribera Foundation School. The gospel was proclaimed by the natural Deacon of Banyeres de Mariola, D. Rodrigo Ferre Bodí. And the prayers were read by two confirmation catechumens.
The offerings in the form of bread and wine were brought by Doña Luisa Fernanda Ferre Doménech, a member of the Board of Directors of the Brotherhood of Santa Lucía, and her husband D. Gregorio Sanchis Huertas.
By last, the collection on this occasion aimed at helping to pay for the new bells, It was collected by Doña María Belda Silvestre, treasurer of the Confraria de Sant Jordi, Doña Pili Almendros Reche, treasurer of the Brotherhood of Santa María Magdalena, by Don Fidel Berenguer Molina, treasurer of the Brotherhood of Santa Lucía and by Don Pedro Vilanova Mora responsible for the parish economy.
About the 11,10 h, the celebration of the Solemn Eucharist ended.
Those responsible for the protocol within the Parish Temple perfectly organized the exit from the Temple, distributing the different groups of people attending through the different doors according to their planned location in the Plaça Major. In the northern area, more than 25 acolytes, followed by our municipal corporation, and behind the representatives of the parish entities, catechumens, party world, cultural entities, social, civilians and neighbors.
In the area on, representatives of the Parish Council, Brotherhood of St. George, Brotherhood of Saint Mary Magdalene, Brotherhood of Santa Lucía and the members of the Guild of Bell Ringers of La Misericòrdia. Entities involved in Banyeres de Mariola being able to have the four new bronzes.
In the middle, between both groups, at the foot of the main façade of the Parish Temple of Our Lady of Mercy, and under the protection of the image of our Patron Saint George who presides over the façade, the true protagonists of the day, the bells of the Virgin of Mercy, Saint George, Santa María Magdalena and Santa Llúcia decorated for this purpose.
Throughout the perimeter of the Plaça Major a large number of people who did not want to miss the Consecration Act, and how the bells were hoisted to the bell tower; Among them some members of groups of bell ringers from other locations who came to visit us and see our new bells..
And presiding over the event, from the steps of the Parish Temple the Most Excellent and Most Reverend Archbishop of Valencia Sr.. D. Enrique Benavent Vidal, and after him our clergy, and the Mariola Choir in charge of entertaining the Consecration.
Once everyone is located in their corresponding places, The Solemn Act of Consecration of the new bells began, by D. Jorge Juan French Albero, Director of Parish Caritas, who acted as Monitor throughout the entire event. Introducing each part of the Consecration Ritual so that everyone present could follow it and perfectly understand each of the steps that were going to be carried out..
Firstly, Mr.. Archbishop taking the hyssop blessed the four bells inside and out., exorcising the new bells; He then anointed the four bells making the sign of the cross in the four cardinal points of each of them with the Oil of the Sick carried by the president of the Confraria de Sant Jordi, He invoked the archangel Saint Raphael so that wherever the sound of the four bronzes reaches, it may be strength of the body and spirit of those who hear it.; He then anointed the bells with the Oil of the Catechumenate carried by the president of the Brotherhood of Santa María Magdalena, Praying to God for the Consecration of the bells, so that they can awaken discernment in the hearts of those who listen to them., the will to humbly imitate the strength, wisdom, the benignity, the beauty, Justice, the devotion and guiding power of God; Thirdly, he anointed the four bronzes on the inside with the Holy Chrism., carried by the president of the Brotherhood of Santa Lucía, for the glory of the Most High God the Father, i of your servers, Mary mother and heavenly queen, of the Archangel Saint Michael, Saint Peter the Apostle and Saint Barbara, solemnly dedicating the bells, so that its sound always rings in praise of God and for the blessing of men and women.
Then Mr.. Archbishop pronounced the Prayer of Consecration of the four new bells. And at the end he spread the incense, carried by the president of the Brotherhood of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar, D. Andres Millan, the president of the Brotherhood of Jesús Nazareno ,D. Angel Belda Blanquer, the president of the Brotherhood of Santo Cristo de la Agonía, Mrs. Josefita Sanchis Huertas, and the Catechist Doña Rosa Blanquer, on four braziers placed under each of the bells, so that these were perfumed, and that its aroma would fill them and ascend to heaven as a prayer to God.
Then Mr.. Archbishop, The presidents of the Brotherhoods of San Jorge and Santa María Magdalena and the president of the Brotherhood of Santa Lucía rang the bells. Each president the bell of the respective devotions of the brotherhoods they preside over, and Mr.. Archbishop the bell that represents the entire Parish. Sounds followed by the Concluding Prayer pronounced by Mr.. Archbishop.
Next, the secretary of the Confraria de Sant Jordi, Macarena Albero Cortés read the Minutes that will record the celebration for future generations. Being signed below by Mr.. Archbishop, The Parish Priest, Mr. Mayor and the presidents of the Brotherhoods of Sant Jordi and Santa María Magdalena and the president of the Brotherhood of Santa Lucía. Minutes that, will be archived in the respective files of the entities represented by the signatories..
The Act of Consecration of the bells ended with the Solemn Blessing to all those present given by Mr.. Archbishop.
And as a final culmination, Messrs.. D. Gonzalo Bodí Pérez, D. Leonardo Ferre Bodí and D. Jorge E. in representation of the same, members of the Bell Ringers Guild of La Misericordia, helped by representatives of the Electro Recamp Hood Restoration company, S. L., they made fly, for the first time, the bells in the Plaça Major de Banyeres de Mariola with the general festive ringing of the four bells.
About the 12:10 h Mr. retired. Archbishop and clergy of the square to dress, and go to the City Hall accompanied by the municipal corporation, and sign in the City Council's Golden Book. He then went to the Plaça Major to see the preparations for the raising of the bells to the bell tower.; And then he visited the Headquarters of the Brotherhood of Santa Lucía where he chatted amicably with the members of its Board of Directors..
The religious part of the celebration is over, Those responsible for the protocol in charge of Plaça Major managed to clear it of the public quickly, for the heavy-duty crane to make its entrance, from the company Grúas Rigar, S.L., that would raise the bells. And the Group of Dolçaines i Tabals El Braçal played their dulzainas and percussion instruments to liven up the event with traditional Valencian music.
Firstly, the clappers were removed, the bells were lowered from the supports on which they were placed. And work began with the Santa Llúcia Bell, followed by the Sant Jordi bell, which had greater difficulty, delaying the scheduled schedule considerably; And in the afternoon the Santa María Magdalena Bell and finally the Mare de Déu bell of La Misericòrdia were raised without any setbacks..
While the last bell was being placed in its place, It was used to remove the supports for the exhibition of the bells and the heavy crane, leaving the Plaza Mayor clear. And taking advantage of this moment to remove the decorated fences and replace the fences that at the beginning of the day were placed to protect the square until the celebration of the next patron saint festivities..
Concluding all the work carried out for the raising of the bells, and organization of the Plaça Major on the 20:15 h in the afternoon.
It should be noted that the tasks took longer than expected due to the delicate process of raising the four bells from the Plaça Major to the anchors that will permanently house them from now on and that had been prepared a few days ago.. Not like last February, in which the bells were lowered in two days, On the first day they were unhooked from their anchors and placed on the shelves of the bell tower., and the second the large tonnage crane, from the company Grúas Rigar, S.L., He took them down and loaded them into the truck located in the Plaça Major..
An anecdote that deserves to be highlighted is that when the last bell Mare de Déu de La Misericòrdia was entering through the embrasure – hole or window – of the bell tower where it had to be located, The La Nova Musical Group entered the Plaça Major to go to the Principal Theater, where he had to perform his 19 Festive Music Concert, livening up the long wait of all those present in the Plaça Major during its parade.
We cannot and should not forget to publicly thank everyone who has made it possible for the four new bells of the Parish of Our Lady of Mercy to become a reality today..
First, thank all members of the Parish Council, to boys and girls of First Communion, to the young people of Confirmation, to the catechists, to parents and parish volunteers for their involvement and participation in this celebration. To the Bell towers of Mercy, for assuming the commitment to provide continuity and maintain our heritage. And especially to the Confraria de Sant Jordi, to the Brotherhood of Santa María Magdalena and the Brotherhood of Santa Lucía, and to all the members of their respective boards of directors for their involvement and for fully assuming the achievement of this project of the entire Parish Community.
To local companies and groups Transportes Ferre Bodí, S.L. for their involvement and facilitating the transportation of the four bells from Gajano in Cantabria. To the company Ribetes y Cordones Martí, S.L., for providing commemorative bracelets for this memorable day. To the Alprocon company, S.L., for their involvement and good work in the adaptation and fixing work of the new anchors for the bells. To the Mariola Choir for their quick involvement and collaboration to liven up the Eucharistic Celebration and the Consecration of the new bells. To the company Electro Mataix for facilitating the installation of the public address system in the Plaça Major for the Consecration ceremony. To the group El Braçal Xirimites i Tabals, to liven up the wait while the bells were raised to the bell tower. Thank the Municipal Corporation of Banyeres de Mariola, your unconditional support from the first moment, and facilitate the processing of the necessary documentation so that all actions are adapted to current regulations, advised by the municipal architect Doña María Gisbert.
At the office of Arquitectos Ferri Navarro, for their involvement and speed in preparing the basic and execution project necessary for the entire process to adapt to current regulations.
To the company Grúas Rigar, S. L. for their involvement and making the maneuvers and work of lowering the old bells and raising the new ones so easy.
To the company Grúas Bellod, S. L., for facilitating the transportation of the bells and tools necessary to transport the old bells to the municipal cemetery and bringing us from Onteniente the four new bells and all the material necessary for their installation.
To the plastic artist Francisco Javier Raga, resident in the Valencian municipality of Massanassa, for their excellent work in adapting and modeling to brilliantly reproduce our own images and their corresponding allegories to scale. Reliefs that decorate the four bells.
To the true architects of this project Abel Portilla, Cantabrian foundry master, for their great involvement and love put into the artisan manufacture of our new bells. A Gideon Bodden, Dutch designer of the harmonic ensemble, for the good result achieved. And to the brothers Vicente and César Tomás Calatayud from Electro Recamp, S.L., of Adzeneta de Albaida, for his great involvement, good work and great coordination throughout the entire process during these last few months that has culminated brilliantly.
And especially to all people, companies and entities of Banyeres de Mariola that, With their contributions they are covering the cost of the bells.
to all of them, thanks a lot.
